The Graduate Preparation Courses have been specially designed by Ontario Institute of Technology (OIT) for international students who have completed their baccalaureate degree, or equivalent qualification, and who wish to pursue a Masters degree program at a university in an English-speaking country. This modular course program gives you the rigorous, intensive preparation in the core research and study skills for successful study at the postgraduate level. It provides you with opportunities to prepare yourself for an admission test and to meet the entry requirements for your intended master degree program. It will also introduce you to the academic learning environment of a university, and will allow you to gain experience studying and working with other international students at the postgraduate level.
Most students who complete the Graduate Preparation Courses at OIT go on to enroll on a Masters programme at an English-speaking university.
Learning methods include lectures, seminars and tutorials; group and individual project work and presentations; supervised independent learning; and critical thinking tasks, amongst others.
The GP Program is composed of eight modular courses over two 14-week semesters. Each course consists of 40 hours of in-class teaching, together with 20 hours of supervised individual study over one 14-week semester. In total, approximately 20 hours of classroom teaching and learning is required each week.
Assessment of each course is by means of a range of coursework (accounting for 70% of the final grade, and including essays and papers, in-class writing tasks, project work and presentations, listening and summary assignments, and the compilation of reflective portfolios), and a final examination (accounting for 30% of the final score).
The GP Program consists of a number of language and study skills modules, together with an elective methodology module in an academic stream (being either the Arts and Commerce Stream or the Science and Engineering Stream) you choose. The language and study skills modules are compulsory and are designed to improve your English proficiency and to satisfy the academic requirements in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The elective methodology module allows you to specialise in the methodology of an academic stream of your choice in preparation for future master’s level study.
All the postgraduate preparatory courses are taught by professional teaching staff who are experienced in teaching English for academic purposes to non-native speakers and have TESL certificates. The courses are well designed and planned. They are delivered in a professional manner. Assessment and evaluation of students’ work are conducted in accordance with the high standards of the similar accredited programs in Canadian universities.
International applicants are welcome from any academic discipline, as well as those in work and seeking continuing professional development. Admission is normally open to those with an undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) or equivalent work experience. Students wishing to apply should have an IELTS score of 5.5 (5 minimum in reading and writing) or TOEFL score of 525 (193) and be 21 years old at or near the date of entry.
To apply for the course, please contact OIT for an application form or download our application form.
When you accept our offer, you agree to OIT’s conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
ENG4010 Academic Reading (Semester 1) The course is designed to raise your academic reading comprehension level. The course includes extensive reading and text organisation analysis of the genres: evaluative reports, persuasive essays. It also covers the appropriate micro skills: note taking, summaries, anticipating main ideas from headings, skimming for main ideas, scanning for specific information and grammar and vocabulary practice.
ENG4020 English Essay Writing (Semester 1) The course is designed to enable you to write reports and persuasive essays, to summarise and evaluate secondary sources, and to apply their reading to a specific issue or question in an essay. You will learn to employ correct citation techniques, and the methods for producing a coherent argument in a judgment essay. The module is also designed to enable you to widen your library research skills, and to develop the microskills necessary for writing at this level, including pre-writing, planning, brainstorming, editing, text organisation and rewriting.
ENG4030 Seminar and Presentation Skills (Semester 1) This module aims to promote your proficiency in listening and speaking skills in English to a level that will prepare you for postgraduate study. The listening skills work will focus on understanding and taking notes on recorded lectures, and on reconstructing a clear summary of main ideas. You will understand the conceptual framework and rhetorical organisation that underpins lectures. Peer-presented papers will introduce you to the concept of critical feedback and group collaboration. Speaking skills will be developed through individual practice in giving individual and group presentations, focusing on awareness of a range of presentation techniques. In addition, group debate and seminar paper practice will focus on how to construct a clear argument and techniques for rational persuasion. Included in this modular course shall be the advanced seminar and presentation skills which are designed to take your listening and speaking ability to a more advanced level in preparation for postgraduate study.
ENG5020 Research Paper and Thesis Writing (Semester 2) This module is designed to allow students to gain experience in writing a supervised individual research project. Guidance will be given through the stages and processes of planning, producing and evaluating a document on a topic selected by the student. Students will extend their critical awareness of reader expectations and of style appropriate to purpose and genre of written product. In addition to the research project, students will present a short seminar talk on their project objectives and findings, as well as a working logbook reflecting self-awareness of strategies and processes involved in the set task.
ENG5010 Advanced Research and Reading Skills (Semester 2) The course is designed to raise your reading comprehension to an advanced level and to improve research skills. The course includes extensive reading and text organisation analysis of the genres: research paper, persuasive essays. It also covers the appropriate micro skills: note taking, summaries, anticipating main ideas from headings, skimming for main ideas, scanning for specific information and grammar and vocabulary practice. An introduction to the research methodology and thesis writing is also included in this course.
Elective foundation courses:
You are to choose two foundation subject modules from the following list of popular courses, based on your interests and future intended field of study:
GPC5010 Introduction to Econometrics
GPC5020 Statistics for Research
GPC5030 Macroeconomics
GPC5040 Microeconomics
GPC5050 Scientific Research and Critical Thinking
GPC5060 Business Communication English
GPC5070 Technical Communication English
GPC5080 Research Methodology
ENG5001 IELTS Preparation (Semester 1)
This course will help you:
ENG5002 TOEFL Preparation (Semester 1) This course helps you gain experience and confidence leading to more positive test results. Special features of the course include:
ENG5003 GMAT Preparation (Semester 1) This course helps you prepare for the GMAT test. It enables you to gain experience and confidence leading to more positive test results. It enables you to develop the specialized MBA reading, speaking, writing, and research skills necessary to successfully compete with North American students in MBA classrooms.
ENG5004 GRE Preparation (Semester 1) This course helps you prepare for the GRE test. It enables you to gain experience and confidence leading to more positive test results. It will enable you to master the GRE content, hone skills with full-length practice tests, and learn proven test-taking strategies.
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